Strickland was born Lady Edeline Sackville-West, to Constance Mary Elizabeth Baillie-Cochrane, and Reginald Windsor Sackville.

[3] In Sydney she lived in Cranbrook in Rose Bay, and then Government House on Macquarie St until 1917 while her husband was the Governor of New South Wales.

[1] Strickland had experienced poor health since 1912, which limited her ability to expend much physical energy.

[7] Under her direction, Strickland's residences, first Cranbrook in Rose Bay, and then Government House on Macquarie St, Sydney became war working centres.

The women who volunteered took over the supper room for daily meetings, and organising material goods for wounded soldiers.